Red Wings Re-Sign Todd Bertuzzi To Two-Year Deal
Detroit, MI... Detroit Red Wings Executive Vice President and General Manager Ken Holland today announced that the team has re-signed forward Todd Bertuzzi to a two-year contract. In accordance with club policy, additional terms of the deal were not disclosed. Bertuzzi was set to become an unrestricted free agent at the end of the season.
"We're very happy to keep Todd in Detroit for another two years," said Holland. "He's played a big role on the team this season as one of our top six forwards and has really worked hard to become a dependable two-way player for us. He fits in really well with our group, both on the ice and in the locker room."
Bertuzzi, 37, was first acquired by the Red Wings in a trade deadline deal with the Florida Panthers on February 27, 2007, in exchange for center Shawn Matthias and Detroit's second round pick in the 2007 NHL Entry Draft. He appeared in eight regular season games (2-2-4, 6 PIM) and 16 postseason games (3-4-7, 15 PIM) for the Red Wings after the trade before signing as a free agent with the Anaheim Ducks that summer. Bertuzzi played one season in Anaheim (2007-08) and one season with the Calgary Flames (2008-09) before returning to the Red Wings, inking a one-year deal as a free agent on August 18, 2009.
Over his three-plus seasons in the Motor City, Bertuzzi has played in 225 games, registering 122 points (48-74-122) and 211 PIM. He has eclipsed several personal milestones while donning the winged wheel including playing in his 1,000th career game on February 20, 2011, at Minnesota, notching a career-high five postseason points and tying a franchise postseason record with four assists against San Jose in Game Four of the Western Conference Semifinals on May 6, 2010, and recently scoring his 300th career goal on February 4, 2012, at Edmonton.
The Sudbury, Ontario, native has appeared in 54 games for Detroit in 2011-12, ranking seventh on the team with 29 points (12-17-29) and fourth with a +21 rating. The crafty veteran has scored on four of six shootout attempts this season, including a team-high three game-deciding goals.
Currently in his 16th NHL season, Bertuzzi has played in 1,076 career games for the New York Islanders, Vancouver Canucks, Florida Panthers, Anaheim Ducks, Calgary Flames and the Red Wings. His career totals include 301 goals, 441 assists, 742 points, 1,426 PIM, 104 power-play goals and 41 game-winning goals. He enjoyed his best statistical season with the Canucks in 2002-03 when he led the NHL with 25 power-play goals, finished third in the League with 46 goals, notched a career-high 97 points (46-51-97) and was named a First Team NHL All-Star.
